Rene Herse rene crankset ultegra chains?

[Doug Williams]

Hi all,

I'm considering a Rene Herse crankset for my Homer but I'm a little confused on when you must (should) use an Ultegra chain on Rene Herse cranksets. Clearly recommended by Jan for 11 speed, I get that. 10 speed also, I think. But what about for 8 or 9 speed? Must you use an Ultegra chain on a 9 speed in order to get the advantage of the Herse ramps and pins? What about 8 speed? I don't even see an "Ultegra" chain for 8 speed, which is what I am currently (and happily) friction shifting on my Homer. Would chain brand matter at all for Rene Herse cranksets with 8 or 9 speed setups?

Doug

[Bill Lindsay]

It is my opinion that people are using the chain they want to use with their Rene Herse cranksets.  I use SRAM chains on my Rene Herse cranksets, usually 1071 and 1091, and I don't have anything negative to report about it.  If I had a problem and suspected it was the chain's fault, I maybe would try a Shimano chain.  

Bill Lindsay

El Cerrito, CA

[Steve Palincsar]

Jan's recommendation of the Ultegra chain is not confined solely to the
11 speed rings with ramps and pins.  10 and below rings do not have
ramps and pins.  They're not "straight cut" but aren't ramped and
pinned.  I've got a Herse triple and I'm running 10.  I got an Ultegra
10 chain on his recommendation, and all I can say is it shifts fine and
isn't too expensive even with the extra cost of a Wippermann link (no
stupid Shimano break-off pins for me, thanks).

8 speed chains are pretty cheap, so how much harm could you get into if
you got a SRAM 8 speed chain and tried it?

--
Steve Palincsar
Alexandria, Virginia
USA

[Doug Williams]

So I would be getting the 7-8-9 speed version of the Rene Herse crank. As I said, I am happily friction shifting 8 speed. But I might consider trying 9 speed with an Ultegra chain if the "special" Ultegra 9 speed chain was going to magically interact with the Rene Herse crank in a way that would not happen with a generic and mundane 8 speed chain. It sounds like there is no such magic, so I will probably just stick with 8 speed.

Doug

[Bill Lindsay]

That indeed is my recommendation, particularly with friction shifting.  Use the chain you like, and I suspect it will be perfecto for you.

Bill

[Jan Heine]

To add some clarification to the chain recommendation for Rene Herse cranks:

11-speed rings (also suitable for 9- and 10-speed): Ramps and pins have to be designed for one specific chain, and we designed ours for the 11-speed Ultegra chain. So the shifting is best with this chain. Other chains should work, but may not shift quite as smoothly.

5-10-speed rings, 10-speed: There are some 10-speed chains that have a propensity for chain suck. We've done a lot of testing with Ultegra chains, and they work great. So that is our recommendation, but others may work well, too. Just avoid chains that are known for chain suck...

5-10-speed rings, 5-9-speed: Use any chain you want. I run SRAM 8-speed chains on my Herse (5-speed), Urban Bike (6-speed) and Mule (7-speed), with no problems whatsoever.

Jan Heine

Rene Herse Cycles

Reborn in the Cascade Mountains

www.renehersecycles.com

[Doug Williams]

Thanks Jan! That answers all of my questions in a very definitive fashion. Good to know. Now I just have to pick my rings. I'm an old man who has trouble getting up steep hills so I'm leaning toward 42/26.  Maybe I'll throw caution to the wind and go 44/28.  :-)

Doug

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[Toby Whitfield]

Jan,

Thanks for that information. One quick clarification question- do you recall what 10 speed Ultegra chain you found worked well? There are 2: the 6600, and the 6701. In think the 6701 is asymmetrical and has to be installed in a certain orientation, but I've never held one in my hands. Looking for a couple new chains to use with 10 speed on my Rene Herse crankset.

Toby Whitfield

[Jan Heine]

I don't recall exactly which Ultegra 10-speed chain we used. Both should work fine - we've had problems only with a few chains from third-party makers.

Jan Heine

Rene Herse Cycles

Reborn in the Cascade Mountains

www.renehersecycles.com

[David Carner]

Toby,

I installed a Rene Herse crankset (double 44/28) on my Riv Road about a year ago. I don't think the pinned and ramped rings were available in that size at the time, so I have the standard 5-10 model. Since I was staying with 9 speed in the rear I used a new SRAM PC 971 that I already had on hand. In the process of updating the drivetrain I installed a Shimano FX-70 FD from Rivbike.  I was frustrated to find that I could not adjust the FD to keep the chain from rubbing the cage on the inner rear cog.  I checked my chain line and it was within a mm. of perfect. Then I realized that the CX70 FD is marketed as a 2 x 10.  I bought an Ultegra 10 speed, CN-6701 and that solved the problem. I use indexed rear, friction front and it would seem difficult for either to shift more smoothly than they do now.

David

[Toby Whitfield]

Thanks David and Jan. I will order up some 6701 chains.

Toby

[Doug Williams]

David,

How are you liking the Rene Herse 44/28? I'm looking at the exact same thing but I'm thinking that (at my advanced age and with hills) a 42/26 would be a better choice. Which rear cog do you find yourself on the with 44 ring most of the time...12, 16, 28? I'm hoping to be in the big chainring most of the time, using the little ring only for a hilly bailout. Around 90 gear inches is big enough for me, I'll just tuck and coast downhill if I spin that out. I can get 90 gear inches with a 42.

I have a 650B Homer with 42mm tires and the Sugino 46/36/24 triple now. I spend most of my time in the 36, but I still go to the 46 fairly often. I go to the 24 only on steep hills. So I'm thinking that if that 36 were just a little bigger, I could live there 99% of the time. I think that the 26 will be close enough to my current 24 to get me by. Although, when one is pedaling up a steep hill while bonked, no gear is too low. I suppose I could go with 42/24 if I could tolerate a 18 tooth shift.

Who is running a 42/26 and how do you like it?

Doug

[David Carner]

Doug,

I have had a 44/28 crank on this bike for about 10 years. Before the Rene Herse I was using a TA Pro- vis-5. One of my reasons for choosing the RH was because I wanted to keep the same size chain rings.  I have a 12-32 cassette. For relaxed riding I am usually on the 18 or 16 cog; when riding with someone who prefers to go faster 16 or 14. I use all 9 cogs with the 44 chain ring and  rarely have to use the 28. We have hills where I live, but not long ones.  I use the 28 ring most often on steep gravel.

I have never been a fast or strong rider. I am currently 70 years old. If I frequently rode long hills I might consider dropping down to a 42 so I could stay on the big ring most of the time.  I don't worry about running out of gears going down hill. If my bike is going 25 mph without me working hard, I am happy to rest.

Good luck on finding what works best for you.

David

[Doug Williams]

Thanks David! Very helpful!

Doug

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[Tim Quinlan]

Doug,
I would go with the lower gears, but that's just me. Every time I think "maybe I'll try these lower gears, just to see...." I end up keeping them.